Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 1/24/2011

Question
I'm a little worried about my son. He speaks mostly in phrases e.g. Dada-shoe-Tata, or I-Donn-wan, I good, I eat. He makes eye contact only with Family. He responds to his name only 30% of the time. But sometimes when I call him he will repeat his name and come running back to me with a smile. He does not call me- his mother anything - but calls my husband Dada. He refers to 6 other family members by name.
He enjoys music and will listen attentively when his rhymes are being played. He knows the sequence of words for a couple of his favorite books and will say them with a smile at the right time when I read to him - e.g. - all,do, imming (swimming), fi (scruffy)etc..
He scribbles with a pen but will not use crayons to color
He plays mostly with blocks and toy cars
My sister-in-law thinks he is autistic- because my son basically ignores my husbands family since he does not spend a lot of time with them. Is 23 months too soon for an evaluation? I am still breast feeding him - he refuses to stop. I have taken the online M-Chat test and need your opinion on the same.

     
1. Does your child enjoy being swung, bounced on your knee, etc.? Yes    
2. Does your child take an interest in other children? Yes - SOMETIMES
3. Does your child like climbing on things, such as up stairs? Yes   
4. Does your child enjoy playing peek-a-boo/hide-and-seek? Yes
5. Does your child ever pretend, for example, to talk on the phone or take care of a doll or pretend other things?Yes
6. Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to ask for something? No-he takes me to the object - toy
7. Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to indicate interest in something?No- he takes me to the object - toy
8. Can your child play properly with small toys (e.g. cars or blocks) without just mouthing, fiddling, or dropping them? Yes
9. Does your child ever bring objects over to you (parent) to show you something? Yes
10. Does your child look you in the eye for more than a second or two? Yes- but only with family
11. Does your child ever seem oversensitive to noise? (e.g., plugging ears) No
12. Does your child smile in response to your face or your smile? Yes
13. Does your child imitate you? (e.g., you make a face-will your child imitate it?) Yes
14. Does your child respond to his/her name when you call? Yes-not always- only 30% of the time
15. If you point at a toy across the room, does your child look at it? No   
16. Does your child walk? Yes    
17. Does your child look at things you are looking at? No
18. Does your child make unusual finger movements near his/her face? No
19. Does your child try to attract your attention to his/her own activity? Yes
20. Have you ever wondered if your child is deaf? No
21. Does your child understand what people say? Yes   
22. Does your child sometimes stare at nothing or wander with no purpose? No - buts he runs most of the time
23. Does your child look at your face to check your reaction when faced with something unfamiliar? Yes

Answer
HI Rose
To answer one of your questions, it is not too early to get your son tested. In the least, he is language delayed. A child who is almost 2 years old should be speaking a lot of words and is putting words together.

But you also mention some other behaviors that are red flags:
ie:doesn't respond to his name often, doesn't call you by a name, plays mostly with blocks and cars, low interest in other children, not willing to stop breastfeeding. One good thing is that you say he understands what others are saying. I am assuming that means he follows directions. That's a good sign.

So go get him evaluated and get going on the speech therapy. Keep me in the loop!